Perched all alone in the middle of a river, the house has faced destruction by floods multiple times but has been rebuilt again and again. Today, this “lonely” house has become a popular tourist attraction.
Just outside the town of Bajina Bašta, in the middle of the narrow Drina River in Serbia, stands a solitary house on a rock. Known as the “loneliest house in the world,” this tiny structure has endured in its unique position for over half a century.
The house was originally built in 1968 by a group of young men looking for a place to sunbathe. While swimming in the Drina River, the boys would climb onto the rock to rest. Realizing the rock wasn’t very comfortable, they decided to build a small house together.
Each time they paddled their kayaks to the rock, they brought along building materials such as wooden planks or panels. Eventually, the house was completed, becoming the perfect summer retreat for the group.
Due to its precarious location, the house has been destroyed by floods several times. After each incident, it was rebuilt, replacing the previous structure. Little did the young men know that their creation would gain worldwide fame more than 40 years later.
In August 2011, photographer Irene Becker visited the site and captured an image of the house. Her photo, featuring the lonely house amidst the river’s flow, was published on National Geographic, capturing the imagination of readers worldwide.
Many people doubted the existence of such a house and traveled to the site to see it for themselves. The growing fascination eventually turned the tiny house into a significant tourist attraction in Serbia.
Today, the house is no longer “lonely” as it welcomes visitors daily. Tourists can join river tours or kayak trips to reach this remarkable spot.
